Bag-closing apparatus



1939- J. D. MERRlFlELD 2,l7l;130

BAG-CLOSING APPARATUS- Filed Sept. 7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'INVENTOR. Jo/wv 0. MERR/F/EL 0 ATTORNEY.

1939- J. D. MERRIFIELD 2,171,130

BAG-CLOS ING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I F 2, I

INVENTOR. J HN 17. MERE/FIELD FMM Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAG-CLOSING APPARATUS John D. Merrifield, Rocky Ford, Colo. Application September 7, 1937, Serial No. 162,748

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for closing by sewing filled sugar bags or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus that will automatically sew or stitch the tops of sugar bags or the like to close them after filling.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus that will startand stop a bag-closing sewing machine in correct relation to the position of a moving bag that is being closed.

A further object is to provide an automatic braking mechanism in a bag-closing apparatus that will promptly decelerate the sewing machine after its driving power ceases, to prevent undesirable coasting that would continue the act of sewing beyond the optimum.

Other objects and advantages reside in details of design and construction that will be more fully set forth in the following description and in the drawings wherein like parts have beensimilarly designated and in which:

Figure 1 is a general side elevation of apparatus built according to a preferred form of the present invention;

, Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along line 2--2 of Figure l and drawnto a larger scale for clarity;

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram of electrical cir-- cuits that are well adapted to be used in the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken. approximately along the line 4-4 of Figure '1, and drawn on a reduced scale.

Description First referring to Figure 1, a conveyor element is represented at l5 having normal move--' ment as indicated by arrow IS. A pair of standards l1 and I8, respectively, are positioned 'adiacent the conveyor and each supports a. longitudinal screw l9 and 20 respectively. The screw 19 carries a photoelectric cell 2 I and the screw 20 carries anotherphotoelectric cell 22. Set screws 23 may be used to hold each of the screws l9 and A flexible brake band 30 is pivoted at 3| to support 31a and attached, at its opposite end, to a brake lever arm 32 at 33. The lever arm is fulcrumed at 32c and is connected by a link 35 to a movable iron core rod 35 in a solenoid 31 that is mounted on a'wall plate 38.

The details of the brake and clutch assembly are shown best in detail in Figure 2, wherein the motor shaft 34 carries a solid set collar 39 next to which is a stationary clutch member 40 that is held by anchorfll, from turning with the shaft. Another clutch member d2. having an anti-friction thrust bearing 42a, is attached to a'clutch lever 53 that is connected at its opposite end with the brake lever arm 32 by means of a link 84.

The pulley 26 is loosely carried on the motor shaft, adjacent a friction disk 46 having a facing ll and a hub 58 through which a set screw 49 tightly secures the disk assembly to the shaft. It will be noted that the brake band 30 is positioned at an angle to the belt 2! due to its shape which is frustro-conical.

A conveyor-driving motor is shown at 50 as mounted on a wall bracket 5| but any convenient position or mounting for the motor will suflice. Driving power is transmited from the motor to theconveyor by means of a belt 52, and a pulley 53. A lamp or other source of a light beam 54 is shown at 55 and it will be seen that filled sugar bags 56 riding on the conveyor will pass between the source of light and the photoelectric cells. Normally the light is directed across the conveyor and onto the cells.

Op ration In use the filled bags are placed on the conveyor adjacent the right end as shown in Figure 1. When a bag passes between the source of light 55 and the photoelectric cell 22, a sensitive relay con ected' therewith and shown at 60, Figure 3, is. de-energized, breaking circuit 8| that includes a source of low voltage electrical energy represented at 62. This Tie-energizes another relay 63 which opens a power circuit 64) that includes a source of power such as a common'110 volt lighting supply, as shown at 65.

The circuit 64 is connected with the solenoid 31 so that when the relay 63 operates to break this circuit, the core-rod 36 and the lever arms '32 and 43, that are supported by the rod, fall by gravity. This movement rotates the clutch member 42 against the stationary clutch member 40 to impart a thrust to the'loose pulley 26 so that it engages the clutch facing 41 to be rotated thereby and to impart driving force to the sewing machine 2 3.

The position of the photo-electric cell is such that the chain-stitch sewing starts just before the bag arrives at the sewing needle, and the driving force is delivered to the sewing machine as long as the circuits 6i and 6d are de-energized. The bag cuts ofi the light beam first fromcell 22 and then from cell ii, that controls relay 60a, before cell 22 is again energized. As long as either cell is without the light beam, the apparatus will function to drive the sewing machine. The beam may cover a wide area so that a single beam will serve to actuate both cells or two separate beams may be used.

The position of cell 29 is such that the sewing will continue just past the edge of the bag. As

the light again energizes both cells the circuits are also energized and the solenoid 3? draws the core-bar 36 upward to release the pulley 26 from its frictional engagement with the clutch facing 6? and at the same time the point 33 on the brake lever arm 32 is moved downwardly to apply the fiem'ble brake band to the part of belt Z'i that is around the pulley. The angular engagement of the band with the belt quickly moves the pulley away from the clutch as the decelerating forces are applied, to promptly bring the sewing machine to a stop.

A sewed and closed bag-is shown in Figure 1 at the left end of the conveyor. The photoelectric cells may be positioned to give various lengths of stitched threads on either side of closed bags as shown at A and B, Figure l, by

the length of stitched thread at A will be lengthened and vice versa. Likewise by moving cell 2!! to the left the sewed string at B will be longer. By providing the two cells, any width of bag can be sewed, and any length of stitched threads can be had at each side, as desired.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In bag-closing apparatus, a bag-conveyor, a bag-sewing mechanism, a source of light directing a beam across the path of bags carried on the conveyor, and a pair of photoelectric. cells spaced in the ection of travel of the bags and positioned in the be for starting and stopping the sewing mechanism according to the position of said bags, and means for adjusting said wcells different distances apart for varying the lengths of stitching at the ends oi the bags.

2. Apparatus for closing sugar bags or the like comprising in combination with a bag-conveyor and a bag-stitcher, a source of light normally directing a beam across the path of bags carried on the conveyor, a pair of photoelectric cells spaced in the direction of travel of the "bags and positioned in the beam, means for adjusting said cells difierent distances apart for varying the length of stitching at the ends of the bags, a motor, stitcherdriving transmission mechanism engageable with the motor, and means inclusive of an electric circuit, a relay switch in said circuit, a source of electrical energy, a control circuit for said relay switch, and a solenoid in the first said circuit, for operating the transmission mechanism, said control circuit being governed by the cells according to the position or the ba s.

JOHN D. E: 

